Man rescued after late-night fall from Santa Cruz cliff

SANTA CRUZ &GT;&GT; A man was rescued after falling from a Westside cliff Wednesday night.

Santa Cruz firefighters responded to the area of West Cliff Drive and Chico Avenue at 11:13 p.m. to find the man clinging to the rocks just a few feet above the water, said Santa Cruz Fire Battalion Chief Rob Young. Before he could be pulled to safety, a wave knocked the man and two rescue swimmers from the fire department into the water, Young said.

The rescue swimmers secured the man and swam him to the beach cove at Auburn Avenue, then carried the man up the cliff to West Cliff Drive in a rescue basket.

Witnesses said the man was walking along the cliff when he fell into the water. Though able to get out of the water, he was unable to climb back up the cliff, witnesses told emergency responders.

The man was treated for hypothermia and assessed for other potential injuries from the fall, then taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Santa Cruz Fire Department reminds the public that it is dangerous along the cliffs with uneven terrain and slippery surfaces.